Letters to the editor Tuesday

While we appreciate your continued coverage of Garden City’s efforts to annex Southbridge I must call attention to some material misrepresentations in your front page article of Dec. 17 (“Southbridge annexation up in the air; residents wait”).Those of us who oppose annexation have repeatedly pointed out that the instrument sent out by Garden City is a petition, not a ballot. The petition has no provision for a “No” vote. While some, including me, have indicated our position by writing “No” on the petition, the proper method for those opposed would be to not return the petition at all. Consequently, the small stack of “No” petitions appearing on your front page photo is not an indication of those opposed but rather of those who wrongly believed that a petition was, in fact, a ballot and chose to state their position on that form.No one should infer from the picture that the small number shown is indicative of a very few who are opposed. Quite the contrary. Garden City manager Brian Johnson’s “frustration” falls short of our own when he repeatedly asks Southbridge residents to “weigh in” while not acknowledging that a petition not received is, in fact, a “No” petition.

TONY YEREXSavannah

GOP hypocritical on deficit

It didn’t take long for the Republicans to show their true, hypocritical colors. Before they even warmed their seats, they cut COLA from millions of seniors and now they have protected their own wallets by voting in tax relief for the very wealthy.Wasn’t it just yesterday they were screaming about the budget? Members of the House average worth are $700,000 and the Senate is $6,400,000, which by the way overwhelmingly approved the bill.

DAVID PETERSONThunderbolt

Drilling ban an energy opportunity

I was encouraged recently by a little publicized piece of good news for clean energy progressives. On Dec. 1, the New York Times reported, “The Obama administration announced that it had rescinded its decision to expand off-shore oil exploration into the eastern Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic Coast because of weaknesses in federal regulations revealed by the BP oil spill.”This ban will be in effect for seven years.We have now been given a seven-year window to make our case once and for all as to whether off-shore wind is a viable and economically feasible energy alternative. (It will probably be temporary, as you can bet the oil industry won’t sit still for this.) We have numerous local experts who have been advocating wind and solar potential for some time, and now we can also benefit by studies being done by every other coastal state as well as those along the Great Lakes. They, unlike us, have taken advantage of grants and federal monies to aid in research and development.I urge everyone to take another, closer look at this resource — and the possibilities it could provide in education, jobs and leadership for Savannah and Georgia, and our contribution to national security. (Check out www.operationfree.net)Instead of following the ways and thinking of the past, it is time for us to challenge the minds of our youth and be willing to invest in them, ourselves and the future of our country.

CLAUDIA COLLIERBloomingdale

Traffic woes potentially life-threatening

On Dec. 21, while sitting in traffic at the intersection of DeRenne and Montgomery Street, I noticed two emergency vehicles trying to maneuver through traffic.No one was moving to allow the emergency vehicles to pass. This is an outrage. The city needs to address this traffic issue, which now has become such a problem that emergency vehicles cannot even get people to the hospital. If this were Bay Street, this problem would have been fixed by now. Give the drivers of these vehicles a remote device so they can at least change the color of the traffic lights in their favor. This may help. The city is taking too long to fix these traffic issues. It is time to make some hard decisions so that all the people of this city and surrounding areas are not sitting in some traffic jam needing medical attention that could be a life or death situation.

AL PRICHARDSavannah

Rea wrong on Australia, gays in military

We would like to respond to Michael Rea’s Tuesday letter by commenting that it is offensive to these Americans to insult the courage of Australians who have been our staunchest allies, from the scenes of Gallipoli to our battles in Iraq. Perhaps Mr. Rea should check his history books before slandering an entire nation. Indeed, carrying a gun no more makes one a hero than not carrying a gun makes one a coward. Furthermore, Mr. Rea is unfortunate to think that one horrific experience with a gay person means that all gay people are not worthy of serving in the military. Enjoying basic human rights, such as equality to move freely in an open society, is what makes all of us Americans. It is our hope that Mr. Rea will open his heart and his mind to those who want to support America. We are enriched by our differences and strengthened by our individuality.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for
following agreed-upon rules of civility. Posts and
comments do not reflect the views of this site. Posts and comments are
automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some
comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules,
click the "Flag as offensive" link below the comment.

One sure way to reduce the deficit would be to apply the COLA Formula for S.S. increases across the board for all federal employees including politicians and armed services. I suspect that the reverse would be more likely, i.e. dropping the COLA Formula entirely. All politicians talk a good game for deficit reduction but that's as far as it goes.

Funny (not ha ha funny) how Congress after Congress blithely sets about talking about cutting or dropping this or that program, cutting his or her salary, and killing this or that department. All the while flitting by the three 800 pound gorillas in our greatgrands' room--- Social Insecurity, Medicare, and Obamacare. There are hopeful flickers this may be changing for the better but it will still require a succession of courageous congresspersons to turn this torpedoed ship around. Silly me. I used Congress and courage in the same sentence.

Funny (not ha ha funny) how Congress after Congress blithely sets about talking about cutting or dropping this or that program, cutting his or her salary, and killing this or that department. All the while flitting by the three 800 pound gorillas in our greatgrands' room--- Social Insecurity, Medicare, and Obamacare. There are hopeful flickers this may be changing for the better but it will still require a succession of courageous congresspersons to turn this torpedoed ship around. Silly me. I used Congress and courage in the same sentence.

OK, this will be politically incorrect & socially insensitive, but wouldn't a child's legitimacy be a primary concern before worrying about what fumes vehicles emit once a year in a parade on River Street??
Gas & diesel fumes may have an unhealthy effect on a child, but what of unmarried parents? Statistically, it's not a good outlook for the child's or parent's futures.At least the last time I checked the data.
And yes, I know it's not popular to bring this subject up.Perhaps "partner" in this case means spouse. Who knows? It just troubles me to look at the way folks prioritize things anymore.Enuf' said.

NYT I "believe" it was. What day? What publication? Pat Toomey "backpedalling from his more conservative stance." What is/was his "more conservative stance?" What is his new stance? Where did this newsflash come from? Me thinks vrim sorta slings the p##p against the wall and hopes that some will stick. Another, can I say it, maroon.

Tony, I appreciate your letter. The misrepresentation of certain central issues in this annexation issue has been one of the main reasons I cannot find in favor of annexation. If the annexation of Southbridge would be such a boon for Southbridge, why the need to twist the facts in a slick 'sales campaign'. It has raised flags for me as to the promises made by Garden City. The trust issue is critical. We really won't know how things will play out after annexation until we open the box and dig through the 'red tape'. I think there are many good things about Garden City but I cannot get past the way the issue is being pursued. This whole thing has hurt both Garden City and Southbridge in the public eye. Who knows, I may have been an avid supporter had the issue been handled differently. I just can't get past the willingness (in my opinion) to present information in a false way to give the impression needed to get what you want. What a shame. As I post this we are at the closing of this issue, I hope. The people of Southbridge have been through enough. My only worry is that there will be an ongoing bitterness between residents and even between Garden City Citizens and Southbridgers. That would be the worst shame.